Bottle-capping device



A. C. MASSIE.

BOTTLE CAPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 10. I920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- a7 lllllll llnnrn mr INVENTOR.

flaMafijz'a.

g ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES ARNOLD CRAWFORD MASSIE, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-CAPPING nnvron.

Application filed June 10, 1920.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD C. MASSIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle- CappingDevices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bottle capping devices; and it relates moreparticularly to manually operable bottle capping devices of a type bestsuited to operation on a small scale, as for domestic purposes and thelike.

The invention has to do especially with devices for applying crown capclosures to bottles, jars and the like. In order to apply such closureseffectively, it is necessary that the crown cap first he placed and heldin position on the bottle or jar mouth, with the cork or other sealingdisk preliminarily compressed a predetermined amount, the skirt of thecrown cap so held being then criinped over the bead provided for thatpurpose on the neck of the bottle or jar.

In prior machines the cap was seated on the bottle and the skirt crimpedby mechanism which would compress or yield, when the pressure on. thebottle exceeded a predetermined amount, in order to prevent breakage ofthe container. This was necessary because of the fact that commerciallyavailable bottles of a given capacity, such as pints or quarts, differconsiderably in height owing to imperfections in manufacture, avariation of from threeeighths to one and one-half inches being fairlycommon in both pint and quart bottles of the type commonly used tocontain beverages, etc. I

In the numerous capping machines heretofore devised the capping of thebottle occurs first, and then follows the functioning of the means whichare provided to allow for the variation in the height of the bottles.Furthermore, such machines have been mostly of complicated character andadapted for more or less automatic operation on a large scale. v V I Itis a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple andinexpensive bottle capping tool which can be readily set up and used inthe ordinary kitchen,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Serial No. 388,027.

which is of solid and durable construction and which can be operatedeven by an unskilled person with the certainty that the bottle will becapped and sealed effectively, regardless of such variations in heightas ordinarily characterize bottles of the usual type. In this tool, thefunctioning of the mechanism for allowing for or compensating for thevariation in height of the bottle takes place first, so that the topsurface of each and every bottle-neck or mouth is brought intoapredetermined relation to the capping mechanism at the outset. That isto say, the bottle is first accurately gaged betweenvthe bottle supportand the capping head. Then, with a substantially fixed or predeterminedstroke of the compression foot, the cork or other disk is compressed adefinite distance sufficient to insure a minimum necessary sealingpressure regardless of the hardness or softness of the cork disk, andthereafter the capping throat device, which crimps the skirt of thecrown, is given a predetermined stroke which is substantially uniformfor all bottles. Of course the absolute magnitude of the pressureproduced by thus seating the cap will depend on the hard or soft natureof the cork; but it is always great enough to give a perfect sealalthough never sufficient to break a bottle. So also the pressure ofcrimping the skirt depends upon the tin, but is not sufficient to breakthe bottle.

Briefly described, bottle capping apparatus embodying the presentinvention comprises three principal parts or members, namely, a table orbase for supporting the bottle, a compression foot whereby, incooperation with said table the requisite pressure on the cap isobtained, and a cappingthroat or crimping device which serves to lockthe bottle cap around the locking bead with which the bottle neck ormouth is provided. In the simple form of the invention, complexity isavoided and other advantages are attained by making these three parts ormembers independently operable by manual means in a manner to be morefully hereinafter described, and, broadly speaking they cooperate thus:The bottle support or table is provided with actuating means whereby itsposition may be adjusted quickly in the direction of the bottle lengthin such manner as to thrust the mouth of the bottle upward, so that thecap with which it is preliminarily provided will contact with thecompression root, the amount of the pressure of this contact beingsomewhat variable but in general inappreciable and only about sufficientto prevent accidental displacement of the bottle from thisposition,which may be termed the holding position. Correspondingly, thepressure in this position may be termed the holding pressure. By meansof this preliminary manipulation, allowance is made at the out set forvariations in the bottle length, it being easily possible to attainapproximately the same degree of initial or holding pres sure regardlessof whether the bottle be long or short. The bottle having been placed inthis holding position and thereby exactly gaged, the support or table islocked rigidly in position and the compression foot can then be operatedto force the cap down on the bottle to compress the cork disk in the capto the required extent, which is readily controllable. This cap-seatingpres sure can be attained by means of a screw or other suitablemechanical movement; and, if desired, by means of an indicating scale orstop means of any appropriate nature the distance through which themanual operating means for applying the cap seating pressure should bemoved may be indicated or positively fixed so as to insure attairiingthe necessarily minimum cap-seating pressure with a given orpredetermined movement of the compression foot, thereby avoiding anydanger of attaining a crushmg pressure.

The cap-seating pressure having been thus applied, so that the cork orother elastic packing of the disk is properly compressed to apredetermined amount, the capping throat or crimping device is thenactuated to lock the cap to the bottle by a predeten mined amount ofmovement.

The nature of the invention will be better understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment oi": theinvention in a simple form which I have found to be especiallyadvantageous in practice. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine or device,

F 2 is a similar view with the principal. operating parts shown incentral vertical section, V

Fig. 8 is an elevation viewed at right angles to Fig. 1; and

Fig. l is a top plan of the capping throat.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is asub stantially upright standard orbracket. adapted to firmly support the various operating parts of thedevice, said standard be ing provided with a base 11 adapted to standsquarely on a table or the like, said base vbeing provided. with a stud12 shown as adapted to project through the table and screw-threaded atits lower end to rccei a wing nut 13, whereby the device may be firmlyclamped in position on the table. 'J-it 1&- is a bracket which can berigidly secured to the standard 10 at various heights thereon accordingto what general capacity or"; bottles is to be capped, that is, quarts,pints, or other sizes. Any convenient means of eiitecting thisattachment of the bracket may be adopted. As here shown, said. brackethas spaced projections or lugs 15 at the rear cooperating with thevertical guide surface 101 provided at the front edge of standard 10 andgrooved on opposite sides as indicated at 16 to receive the ends 01adjustable set screws 17, which extend through bosses 18 on the bracketlugs. Additional means may be provided to insure solid mounting of thebracket on the stanoard at any selected position, such means CODVGI1iojutlj taking the term of a clamping screw 19 extending through adepending lug 24? on the bracket 14 and bearing against the \"e: icalstandard, any turning movement of the bracket about a horizontal. axisbeing thus resisted and accurate leveling adjustment being facilitated.

The bracket 1% serves as a mounting b se for the table or .bottlesupport 21. tdani table is so carried on the bracket as to be ra :llyshittable vertically to such dijfi erent positions as are necessary tocompensate for variations in length of bottles of a given capacity asthey ordinarily run in commercial lots; and means for effecting thiscoinpensating shift and also for convei'iiently locking the table in anysuch compensating position are accordingly provided. in the constructionillustrated, the table 21 is provided on its under side with shirt orz-innulus 253, iaving its lower surface formed a double cam 23. The camsurfaces 23 bear. respectively, against diametrically oppositeeam-abutments 24, carried on the upper side or" the bracket 14;. Thetable is secured to an axially disposed post which slidably androtatably through a c ar sleeve 26 formed on said bracket. xiv thisconstruction, when the table is rotated about its vertical axis, it iselevated or depressed. As here shown. the table is provided withstop-lug 211 which engages the standard 10 when the full throw of thecam has been reached. The sleeve 26 as here shown is split at 27,suitable clamping means being provided to clamp the sleeve firmly aroundthe post 25, and thus to lock the table 21 at any adjusted positionthereof. In the construction illustrated, the clamping bolt 28, havingan operating handle 29, extends through cooperating lugs 26]. of thesplit sleeve and threads into a nut 281 held stationary in any adjustedposition, by a lock mg pm 282 .l or turning the table abonjt verticalaxis, a handle 30 may be provided. As shown in the figures, the table isresting on the highest points of the double cam The overhanging portionor head 31 of the upright standard 10 carries the compression foot 32and the capping throat device 33 before referred to, together with thenecessary operating mechanism therefor. The compression foot is carriedat the lower end of a spindle 3%, working within a nut or hearing sleeve35 extending through the head 31, the lower part of said spindle beingprovid d with screw threads 36 working in the internally threadedportion of the sleeve 35. Suitably secured to the upper end of saidspindle is an operating handle 37 where by said spindle may be rotatedand thus screwed downward or upward according to the direction ofmovement of the handle 37. The annular capping-throat device 33 isinternally coned to flare downwardly as indicated at 38, and is suitablycarried by a holding member 39, vertically slidable on sleeve In thepresent example, screws ll, threading into tapped bosses e2 on oppositesides of the carrier 39, have washers 4:11 which marginally engage theunder face of the capping throat and enable it to be clamped securelyinto place in the carrier by turning the screws home. In order to permitready insertion or removal of the capping throat, it may be providedwith peripheral notches 40 of such depth that when the throat is turnedso that the notches register with washers the throat will just clearthem. Suitable means are provided to force the holder 39 and the throatdevice 33 downward to effect the skirt-crimping operation, and to returnthe same upward after the operation is completed. In the present example. a capping cam device comprising a disk 43 revoluble on bushing 35is provided with a cylindrical skirt or flange 4-5 to which is securedan operating handle 44, fitting in a socket l l-l. The lower edge 46 otflange L5 is formed to provide a double cam surface, as shown, bearingagainst the upper surfaces of lugs or shoulders a? with which thecarrier 39 is provided. In the drawings, the parts are shown in anintermediate position, the handles 37 and 44 having been swungapproximately 90 clockwise from starting position.

Coiled spring &8, surrounding spindle 3st and confined between thecompression foot and the carrier 39 yieldingly resists downward movementof the capping throat as the capping cam is turned in one direction, andserves to return the same upward to inoperative position when thecapping cam device is turned in the opposite direction. The carriermember 39 of the capping throat may be held against rotative movement bymeans of a forked projection 49 embracing a vertical guide 50 on theupright standard.

The method 0t employing the bottle capping device of: the invention issutliciently obvious from the foregoing description, but will besummarized for convenience. Assume all the parts to be in startingposition, as follows: The compression foot 32 and capping throat 33 arein their uppermost positions; that is, handle 37 is turned approximately90 counter-clockwise from the position which it occupies in thedrawings, or until the lug 371 engages stop 372. Similarly handle l-l isswung approximately 90 counter-cloclnvise to its stop or startingposition. The table support 14: is rigidly secured by means of the setscrews 17 at the proper adjusted height on the upright standard 19 forthe particular size or height of bottle or jar that is to be capped, andthe table support is further secured and properly leveled in position bymeans of the clamping screw 19. The table clamp handle 29 is in downposition, the spindle 25 being therefore tree to turn and to movelongitudinally in the sleeve 26. The table itselt is in its lowermostposition which is attained by swinging the handle 30 clockwise substantially 189 from the position shown in Fig. 3. The operator new placesthe bottle on the table pad and places a crown cap on the bottle top.The table handle is then swung counter-clockwise to turn the table andthereby elevate it until the crown cap enters the capping throat andengages the compression foot 32 with a slight pressure, which is felt bythe hand of the operator and the ex tent ot' which the operator canthereby judge with suilicient accuracy. As the table is being elevated,the operator may turn the bottle slightly on its base to insure itsseating flat on the table pad. lVith the table held in its elevatedposition, the operator then pulls the table clamp handle 29 firmly upwith his free hand, locking the table in position. The bottle is nowexactly gaged between the table and the capping head and is ready to becapped. The operator now grasps the handle 37 and swings it cl0cl wisethrough a predetermined angle until the lug 37!. a ain engages stop 372.This operation moves the compression foot 32 down through an exactlypredeterminable distance,.thus compressing the cork sealing disk of thecrown cap to the necessary extent. The operator next grasps the handletland swings it clockwise until the capping cam has forced the carrier39 and capping throat 33 down suliiciently far to properly crimp theskirt of the crown over the bead provided on the bottle throat. Thethrow of the capping cam may be limited to any predetermined distancefound to be desirable. For example, a stop screw 52 carried by thecapping cam device may be arranged to engage the standard 10 when thecapping throat has been forced down a sufiicient distance. The positionof this stop screw 52 may be varied, if desired, and to this end one ormore additional tapped holes 53 may be provided on the cylindricalportion 45 of the capping cam device to enable setting the stop screw atdifferent angular positions thereon. This arrangement is convenientbecause it enables adjustment for greater downward movement of thecapping throat when the latter becomes badly worn after lon use.

The operations above described complete the capping of the bottle orjar. To release the capped bottle or jar, handles 37 and 4st aresuccessively swung counterclockwise into their starting positions. Theoperator then grasps the bottle near its base with one hand, and at thesame time loosens the table clamp by pushing down on handle 29. Thetable thus released will return to its lowest position by gravity, andthe capped bottle or air may then be removed from the table.

As the bearing surfaces on the capping cam and throat carrier wear, thedistance relation between the compression foot and the throat may afterlong use change suiticiently to require adjustment of the parts. Inorder to restore the original distance relation, the set screw 373 inthe handle casting 37% is first loosened. The handle casting is thenturned counter-clockwise from the position shown in the drawings untilthe lug 371 is against the stop 372, and the casting is raised aboutone-eighth of an inch above the upper surface oi the head 31 of theframe casting, in which position it may be held. temporarily in anysuitable manner as by means oi:- thin pieces of wood or cardboardinserted between the casting and the head. The compression screw spindle3 is then turned slightly in the proper direction to raise thecompression toot a trifle. This may be conveniently accomplished bymeans oi. a screw driver engaging screw 321 which holds the compressionfoot to the compression screw. An unused crown cap is next pushed intothe sealing throat, and if it does not seat on the crimping surface ofthe throat, the compression screw should be turned back still fart-herin the same direction as before. When proper seating of the cap in thecapping throat is finally accomplished, the handle casting is clamped tothe screw spindle Set by tightening set screw 373, and the cardboard orother temporary spacing means is removed. with the crown cap heldproperly seated against the capping throat edge, the handle casting 37 iis turned clockwise until the compression foot just touches the top 01.the crown. Keeping the handle casting in this position, the crown cap isthen removed, the compression screw is held against movement by means ofa screw driver, and set screw 87 3 is again loosened, and the handlecasting turned back counter-cloclnvise into starting position. Thehandel casting is then raised about oneeighth of an inch, and the setscrew 373 tightened to clamp the same securely to the compression screw.The capping tool is now adjusted to compress the cork of a crown thesame amount as when the tool was new, and this is the only adjustmentrequired.

l vhile the invention'has been described more particularly in connectionwith bottle capping devices designed especially for domestic use,certain novel features or" the construction disclosed are applicable toma shines adapted for operation on a larger scale, and the scope of theinvention is to be understood as correspondingly broad.

Since, by the construction shown, the bottles, notwithstandingdeviations from standard size always have their tops brought to apredetermined position relative to the capping mechanism, the latter,comprising the compression foot and the capping-throat device, may havealways the same amount of downward movement, thus insuring the sameamount of compression of the cork and the same amount of crimping of theskirt oi": thecrown. This is not the case where springs are relied on,since these change with use.

Since a large part of the construction herein disclosed is in the formof simple castings requiring substantially no machine work in finishingand assembling, such work being limited to a few parts, the machine iseconomical in construction, yet durable and rel able. The absence ofsprings for determining the capping pressure is an especiallv desirablecharacteristic.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination, with a standard andmeans for securing the same to a support, of a reciprocable compressionfeet, a reciprocable cappingthroat device, both supported by saidstandard, separate manually operable means for actuating saidcompression foot and capping-throat device independently, a bottlesupport carried by said standard in fixed alinement with saidcompression foot, and manually operable means for moving said bottlesupport toward and away from said compression foot and for rigidlyholding said bottle support against movement.

2. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination, with a mountingpedestal having an overhanging upper portion, and means for securingsaid pedestal to a suitable support, of an internally threaded bushingsupported by said overhanging portion of the pedestal, a compressionfoot havino a spindle threaded to work in said bushing, a handle forturning said spindle, a cappingthroat device vertically slidable on saidbushing, a cam device rotatable on said bush- Cir ing to force saidcapping-throat device downwardly, a handle for rotating said cam device,a bracket adapted for rigid attachment to said pedestal at differentheights thereon, a bottle supporting table mounted on said b acket infixed alinement with said compression foot but movable on said brackettoward and from said foot, manually operated cam means for effectingsuch movement or the table, and means for locking the table in anyadjusted position on said bracket.

In bottle capping apparatus, the com- Tination, with a compression foot,a cap- -throat device, and means angularly ble to impart positivepredetermined thrust movement to said compression foot andcapping-throat devic separately, of a bottle support independentlymovable toward and away from said compression foot and capping-throatdevice, anu means for holding said bottle support in adjusted position.

Bottle capping apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including stop meansto limit the operative movements of said compression root andcapping-throat device.

5. Bottle capping apparatus comprising, in combination, a bottle supportand a capping head relatively movable bodily toward and away from eachother to preliminarily gage between them a bottle surmounted by a cap,and means whereby relative separating movement of said support andcapping head after such preliminary adjustment is rigidly opposed, saidcapping head comprising a compression foot arranged to engage the cap onsaid bottle in such preliminary gaging position, means for imparting tosaid compression foot a cap-compressing stroke of predetermined length,and a cappingthroat device operable independently of said compressionfoot to force the cap skirt into locking engagement with the bottlewhile the cap is so held under compression.

6. Bottle capping apparatus comprising, in combination, a rectilinearlymovable compression toot, a bottle support adjustable toward and awaytherefrom, means operable to hold said support rigidly in adjusted position, a capping-throat device encirclin said compression foot andmovable parallel therewith but independently thereof, means operable toimpart a positive non-yielding cap-compressing stroke to saidcompression foot, and separate means for actuating said capping-throatdevice.

T. Bottle capping apparatus as set forth in claim (3 furthercharacterized by the provision. of spring means acting upon said cappingthroat device and tending to move it out of operative position.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. 7

ARNOLD CRAWFORD MASSIE.

